The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) was created by the Department ofTransportation Act of 1966. It is one of ten agencies within the U.S. Department ofTransportation concerned with intermodal transportation. FRA promotes safe,environmentally sound, successful railroad transportation to meet the needs of all customers today and tomorrow.

FRA's Office of Railroad Safety promotes and regulates safety throughout the Nation's railroad industry. The office executes its regulatory and inspection responsibilities through a diverse staff of railroad safety experts.

The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for working with stakeholders to develop cohesive goals and policies for maintaining and improving the U.S. freight and passenger rail networks. This section covers various efforts across America and the world in helping to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient rail transportation.

FRA Research & Development (R&D) projects contribute to the FRA's safety regulatory processes, to railroad suppliers, to railroads involved in the transportation of freight, intercity passengers, commuters, and to railroad employees and their labor organizations.

In this section, we provide descriptions and comprehensive, official sources for FRA's regulations (also called rules), selected legislation, as well as policy and guidance documents. Additionally, you will find current topics of high interest or significant impact to Congress, railroads, employees, labor, public interest groups and other stakeholders.

FRA supports passenger and freight railroading through a variety of competitive grant, dedicated grant, and loan programs to develop safety improvements, relieve congestion, and encourage the expansion and upgrade of passenger and freight rail infrastructure and services. FRA also provides training and technical assistance to grantees and stakeholders.

Northlake, Ill. – Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo joined senior railroad industry leaders and labor officials to launch a collaborative effort to educate and raise awareness among rail industry employees of the dangers of using electronic devices on the job. Administrator Szabo encouraged rail companies to adopt anti-distraction programs and challenged all railroad employees to make the improper use of such devices while on the job socially unacceptable.

“Distraction can impact anyone, whether they’re driving a car or working in a railroad environment, and the consequences can be equally serious – and even deadly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Ending distraction will take everyone’s help, and I appreciate leaders in the railroad industry and labor joining us in this important safety effort.”

Today’s event marks the launch of a collaborative outreach effort to encourage the establishment of peer-to-peer programs that raise awareness among all railroad employees of the dangers of distraction. Railroad employees who improperly use electronic devices while on the job violate both federal regulations and railroad operating rules, while endangering themselves and possibly their coworkers, railroad passengers, and those who live and work along rail lines.

“I have spent my entire career in the railroad industry, and I know firsthand how distractions can lead to danger,” said Administrator Szabo. “That’s why I’m calling on all rail industry employees to adopt a zero tolerance position on using electronic devices while working, building an even stronger safety culture where workers can confidently depend on one another to keep everyone safe.”

In October 2008, FRA issued an Emergency Order to prohibit the use of electronic devices by railroad operating employees. The Emergency Order was codified by FRA as a regulation, which includes all railroad employees, in September 2010.

The kick-off event to highlight the dangers of distraction was held at Union Pacific Railroad’s Proviso Yard, as Union Pacific is among the first rail carriers nationally to adopt a peer-to-peer program to eliminate electronic device distractions. Representatives from several labor organizations and rail companies also took part in the event.